MLB: 3 Up, 3 Down

Mike Minor, Atlanta Braves: He was insistent during spring training that he make the Braves' starting five or the team should consider trading him, and through three regular-season starts thus far Minor has made his words count with outstanding on-field work. Most impressive has been his polished command; he has cut what was a 3.27 walks-per-nine-innings ratio in 2011 to 2.21 this season, and his fastball command has stepped up most, throwing it for strikes 70 percent of the time and generating misses on 21 percent of swings, up from 66 and 16 percent a year ago. Minor has always had front-of-the-rotation stuff; adjustments to big league competition and his command were the obstacles in his past stints with the Braves. It appears he's clearing both of those hurdles, and with continued success in the latter he might yet make a run at the top 40 starters.